VOINews, Jakarta: Japan's Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia, Katsuro Nagai, expressed hope for continued strengthening of bilateral cooperation between Japan and Indonesia across various fields, including politics, economy, society, and culture. He conveyed this during his speech at the welcoming event for participants of the Islamic Boarding School Leaders' Visit Program to Japan, held in Jakarta on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
Nagai highlighted the importance of strong ties between the people of both nations as a foundation for broader collaboration.
"We are ready to facilitate exchange programs to deepen the bond between our peoples,” he said.
The program, which ran from December 3 to 11, 2024, aimed to foster mutual understanding between Japanese citizens and Indonesia's Muslim communities. Participants from Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, South Kalimantan, and East Java visited Tokyo and Kyoto during the exchange.
They engaged in various activities, including school visits, homestay programs, and interfaith dialogues. Nagai explained that the initiative, which began in 2004, had been temporarily halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in 2022. To date, over 180 participants have taken part in the program.
Jamhari Makruf, Rector of the Indonesian International Islamic University (UIII), expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for the opportunity provided to Islamic boarding school leaders.
“Japan has succeeded in becoming a developed nation without losing its identity. I hope the experiences gained in Japan can be applied in their boarding schools and communities,” he said.
One of the participants, Mrs. Kiki, shared her impressions of the program. She was particularly impressed by Japan’s focus on character education instilled from an early age.
“Japanese kindergarten children are very independent and environmentally conscious. This demonstrates how moral and character education is prioritized,” she remarked.
Mrs. Kiki was also inspired by Japan's strong reading culture. She plans to implement similar initiatives in her boarding school to foster a love for reading among the students.
This program underscores the commitment of both nations to fostering closer cultural and educational ties, strengthening the people-to-people connection that underpins their bilateral relationship./LIP/Ofra.
